Folding table hardware



Nov. 26, 1940.

R. E. TAFEL FOLDING TABLE HARDWARE Filed Nov. 8. 1937 cr:\ r1- 7 162 J72 Patented Nov. 26, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,223,193 FOLDING TABLE HARDWARE ville, Ky.

Application November 8, 1937, Serial No. 173,335

ZClaims.

My invention relates to folding tables and.

analogous structures and particularly to folding card tables having ornamented or highly finished top surfaces.

The main object of the invention is to equip a folding table with an auxiliary pivoted arm, capable of cooperating with the table top so as to support it in the generally vertical position when resting on one side or edge with the legs folded so that the table top can be utilized for purposes other than a table, such as a screen thereby providing a novel means for storing the table, as well as organizing the table to render an additional service for the owner.

A further object is to construct an auxiliary arm and incorporate it into the table structure without interference with the legs of the table.

A still further object is to construct the auxiliary arm so that it can be used as, or to support an ash tray or other objects when the table is erected for normal use.

Other objects of the invention reside in the details of construction and combination of parts and in their mode of operation as will be described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fragment of a table erected for normal use equipped with an auxiliary folding armadjusted to function as a tray support, thelatter being sometimes referred to herein as arm-tray.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a fragment of an under part of inside of the table top corner (minus the usual hinged leg) showing the foldable arm of the type shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a fragmentary portion of the under surface showing a comer of the table top and its border flange with the arm-tray hinged to said flange and folded adjacent the under surface of the table top.

Fig. 4 illustrates, in enlarged perspective view, one of the stationary bases to which is pivoted the swingable arm shown in Fig. 5, which is also a perspective view.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the incident invention with the supporting elements similarly organized to those shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. '1 is similar to Fig. 6 with the arm closed or rotated and lodged adjacent the under surface of the table and corresponding to Fig. 3.

Numeral I designates the upper surface of table top II, I2 the .under surface, I3 the inside of flange I4, while I designates the outside surface of the flange which contacts the floor when the table is being used as a screen.

A pair of bases I6, I1 are mounted onto surface I3 by means of conventional screws. The right hand base I1, as shown in Fig. 4, is fash- 5 ioned with holes I1I to receive the screws. The outside end thereof is fashioned into a keeper with a curled locking lip or clip I12, which is also equipped with a locking notch I13 and bearing I14 to receive stub shaft I8Iof looped arm desig-, nated generally as [8. The left hand base is a counterpart or companion to base I1 and reversely formed and located so that the holes for stub shaft I8II82 will be in substantial alignment. Each base similarly functions to carry and lock 15 arm I8 in open, intermediate, orclosed positions. These positions being attained by progressively orientating arm I8, through 90 degree stages as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The loop I8 is constructed of heavy spring wire or light rod material and formed so as to urge the shaft ends outwardly under spring tension, said spring tension being provided for forcing portions of loop I8 under the locking clips, and to permit disengagement when sprung inwardly. I

Disposed substantially at right angles to the stub shafts are shanks I83, I84. Also, there are disposed reaches I85, I88, substantially at right angles to the shanks. The reaches are united by bar I81 which completes arm I8.

In Fig. 4, a fragment of shank I83 is shown in full lines and locked or secured under clip I12. In this locked position, when mounted on the table, the shanks of arm I8 will be disposed in a plane substantially parallel to top surface I0. Thus it will be perceived that arm l8 must be rotated 180 degrees from the position shown in Fig. 3 to attain the position shown in Fig. 1. The dash lines show shank I83 as disposed under lip HA and indicate the position arm I8 occupies when the arm-tray is lodged adjacent the under surface of the table as in Fig. 3. Pressure, inwardly applied to reaches I85, I86, as by gripping, frees arm I8 for orientation, while release of this force restores the outward pressure for locking the arm in a selected position.

Figure 1 shows arm I8 equipped with tray I8A and illustrates the table erected for normal use. When the arm-tray is not functioning as a support for the table or as a tray per se, provision is made, as adverted to hereinbefore, to fold it under the table and adjacent surface I2 as shown in Fig. 3. Leg L can be folded over arm I8 or the arm-tray without conflict. Shanks I83, I84 are proportioned and disposed in terms of leg65 cost embodimentof the invention is desired. It

plied, this causes reaches I85 to move inwardly 5 and thereby release the shanks from lips l62-I12, or I6Al1A, depending'upon .the rest position of arm l8. Relaxing the pressure of the grip allows the extremities of the arm to spring outwardly and the shanks to engage the notches in bases H3, or the lips thereof, thereby securing the arm in the selected position.

It should be noted that rim I8B of tray IBA is curled over so as to grip bar l8! throughout its length while rims IBC grip reaches l85-I'86, respectively, only at the remote, portions. This structure is employed to firmly secure the tray toarm l8 and 'at'the same time permit reaches to-flex, and to further provide means for reinforcing the ,.arm,.also when it is desired to augment the outward tension .of' the free ends of the arm with the notches or lips in plates Iii- 41.

Unitary base 20 ,is employed when the lower isequipped with looking lips 2| similar totthe lips of plate IT, to receive reaches 22, 23 of arm 24. The lateral-parallel margins at right and left of the base are fashioned with lips 2| and wings 20A. It will be noted that the lateral margins gradually merge from the vertical wings to a substantially horizontal plane tov form the lips, with the result that. cam faces areformed and areutilized as tracks for inner sections of reach'es.22-23 when arm 24 is rotated. 90 de-' grees', in a; plane perpendicular to the .top or flange on which'it is mounted from lips 2| to engagement. with wings 20A. This provision is made for yieldinglyretain'ing arm' 24 adjacent the under surfacel2 of the tabletop when said arm is not'employed asa support for thetable top. When the latter is to be used in the vertical position as a screen, as shown in Fig.,.6, the

arm is rotated and engaged by lips 2!. This position corresponds to Fig. 2, on which is mounted the arm-traystructure. The table leg is not shown in either Fig. '6 or ,Fig. '7, however, it

mustbe understood that the leg is proportioned and pivotally mounted so that it canbe folded when' arm 24 is in the position shown 'in either of the latter; mentioned figures. Y Y

' Iii-Figs. 2 and 6 the table top member is shown slightly tilted from the vertical plane and the table being braced by the auxiliary laterally dis posed supporting arm IBB or 24, respectively,-

which prevents the table top from turning over, when used as a screen. Since the base member 20 is attached to the inside of the flange I3, and. arm 24 lies adjacent the inner surface thereof, the thickness of the flange and base 20 causes the arm to be removed from the plane in which the outer side of the flange is disposed. Although the arm and the outside of the flange lie in parallel planes, the end of the arm in contact iywith the floor is disposed at an angle less than 90 to the plane of the table top.

Obviously, gripping and applying inward pressure to reaches 22, 23, releases arm 24 for rotation from the extended or open position as shown in Figure 6 to the folded or closed position shown in liigure 7. However, arm 24 can be moved from the folded position, shown in Figure It must be understood that I have selected preferred embodiments for disclosure of my invention and that modiflcationssuch as attaching a modified base or bases to the top independently of'or in combination with said flanges can be made without departingfrom the spirit of my inventionfalso thatbases l6, l'| can be unified, therefore, I wishto be limited only by the following claims.

I, claim: f

1. Th'e combination with a table, having a tion in proximity to the under" surface of said top and out of operating position and the top isdisposed substantially vertically with the outsideface of the section carrying said arm resting on' a hori zontal body. Y Y

2. The combination with a table having a rectangular top. and a flange depending from each edge thereof and legs pivotally mounted on the under' surface of'the top thereof and foldable' within the perimeter thereof, of an auxiliary member secured :tothe inner face of oneof 'said flanges for supporting the top in a substantially verticalfposition', said member comprising. an 'arm having one end thereof pivotally'secured to the inner faceof oneofthe said'flanges and disposed between thei pivoted supports of adjacent legs and-extendable from a folded position to an operating" position substantially perpendicular from'the'under surface of said top, to a plane extendingifrom the-inner face of said flange.

F ROBERT E. TAFEL. 

